Tool organizer

ABSTRACT

A tool organizer is designed to arrange orderly a series of tools, each having a working end of a specification. The tool organizer comprises a base and a plurality of retaining members mounted at intervals on the base for retaining removably the tools. The retaining members are formed of a retaining portion and a specification mark located along with the retaining portion to denote the specification of the working end of the tool. The retaining portion is used to retain removably the working end of the tool.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a tool organizer, andmore particularly to a structure to organize wrenches of variousspecifications.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] There are a number of hand tools of various specifications, whichare generally denoted in the metric system or British system. For thisreason, the hand tools must be arranged in an orderly manner so as togain simplicity and efficiency. For example, a socket wrench setcomprises a number of sockets various in specification, as illustratedin FIG. 1. Each socket 1 has a coupling end 2 and a working end 3. THEcoupling end 2 has a tetragonal slot, while the working end 3 has ahexagonal slot. The coupling ends 2 of the sockets are of variousspecifications, such as ¼″, ⅜″, ½″, ¾″, and 1″. The working ends 3 ofthe sockets are of various specifications, such as 15 mm, 16 mm, 17 mm,18 mm, 19 mm, 20 mm, and 21 mm. The specifications may be denoted ineither the metric system or British system. It is therefore imperativethat the sockets of a socket wrench set must be arranged in an orderlyway to enable a user of the socket wrench set to enhance his or her workefficiency.

[0003] As shown in FIG. 2, a socket organizer 4 of the prior artcomprises a base 5 and a plurality of elastic retainers 7, each having ahead 9 of a specification in conformity with the specification of thecoupling end 2 of the socket 1. The base 5 is provided with two slidingprojections 6 opposite to each other and extending along thelongitudinal direction of the base 5. The elastic retainers 7 have twosliding grooves 8, which are slidably fitted with the slidingprojections 6 of the base 5. In light of the coupling ends 2 of thesockets being of a tetragonal construction, they can be retained by anyone of the elastic retainers 7, thereby resulting in a chaotic conditionof the sockets 1, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Under such circumstances,one must take the trouble to look for a socket with the working end 3 ofa desired specification.

[0004] As shown in FIG. 4, another socket organizer 10 of the prior artcomprises a plurality of retaining members 11, each having a retainingportion 12 which is provided with a retractable ball 13. The retainingportion 12 is of a tetragonal construction and is fitted into thecoupling end 2 of the sockets 1. It is conceivable that the sockets 1are apt to be arranged in a disordered condition in terms of thespecifications of the working ends of the sockets.

[0005] As shown in FIG. 5, a prior art socket organizer 14 has a mainbody 15 which is provided with a plurality of locating slots 16, eachbeing provided at a bottom end with a magnetic piece 17. The locatingslots 16 are various in dimension according to the outer diameter of thesockets 1. The sockets with a relatively small outer diameter can belocated in those slots 16 which are intended to locate the sockets witha greater outer diameter, as illustrated in FIG. 6. As a result, a userof the sockets must take the trouble to look for a socket with theworking end of a desired specification.

[0006] As shown in FIG. 7, another prior art socket organizer 18 has abase 19 which is provided with a plurality of upright rods 191 forholding a plurality of sockets 1. The upright rods 191 are fitted intothe coupling ends 2 of the sockets 1. This prior art socket organizer 18can bring about a chaotic situation similar to those which are describedabove with reference to FIGS. 1-4. In addition, the socket organizer 18can not hold firmly the sockets 1, which are thus vulnerable to loss, asillustrated in FIG. 8.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is therefore the primary objective of the present invention toprovide a socket organizer which is free of the deficiencies of theprior art socket organizers described above.

[0008] In keeping with the principle of the present invention, theforegoing objective of the present invention is attained by the socketorganizer comprising a base, and a plurality of retaining members. Theretaining members are provided with a retaining portion which is sodimensioned to fit into the working end of a socket. In light of theworking ends of the sockets being different in specification to oneanother, only the socket of a specific size and shape can be retained bya specific retaining portion. As a result, a user of the sockets isprevented from arranging the sockets in a disordered manner. Inaddition, the retaining members are provided with an identification markof the specification of the working end of a given socket. Theidentification mark serves to make it easy for the user of the socketsto arrange the sockets in a proper order in the wake of the use of thesockets. In addition, the identification mark serves to enable the userto gain an access to a specific socket with ease and speed. Moreover,the sockets are arranged orderly on the socket organizer such that thecoupling ends of all sockets are in a standby position at which thesocket can be easily picked up by the socket wrench.

[0009] The features and the advantages of the present invention will bemore readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the followingdetailed description of the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a series of sockets of the socketwrench.

[0011]FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a first prior art socketorganizer to hold the sockets as shown in FIG. 1.

[0012]FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the first prior art socketorganizer at work.

[0013]FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a second prior art socketorganizer to hold the sockets as shown in FIG. 1.

[0014]FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a third prior art socketorganizer to hold a series of sockets of the socket wrench.

[0015]FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the third prior art socketorganizer at work.

[0016]FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a fourth prior art socketorganizer to hold a series of sockets of the socket wrench.

[0017]FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the fourth prior art socketorganizer at work.

[0018]FIG. 9 shows a schematic view of a first preferred embodiment ofthe present invention.

[0019]FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the first preferred embodimentof the present invention at work.

[0020]FIG. 11 shows another perspective view of the first preferredembodiment of the present invention at work along with a socket wrench.

[0021]FIG. 12 shows a schematic view of a second preferred embodiment ofthe present invention.

[0022]FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of the second preferredembodiment of the present invention at work.

[0023]FIG. 14 shows a schematic view of a third preferred embodiment ofthe present invention.

[0024]FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of the third preferred embodimentof the present invention at work.

[0025]FIG. 16 shows a perspective view of a fourth preferred embodimentof the present invention.

[0026]FIG. 17 shows a schematic view of the fourth preferred embodimentof the present invention.

[0027]FIG. 18 shows a perspective view of a fifth preferred embodimentof the present invention.

[0028]FIG. 19 shows a schematic view of the fifth preferred embodimentof the present invention at work.

[0029]FIG. 20 shows a perspective view of a sixth preferred embodimentof the present invention.

[0030]FIG. 21 shows a schematic view of the sixth preferred embodimentof the present invention.

[0031]FIG. 22 shows a perspective view of a seventh preferred embodimentof the present invention.

[0032]FIG. 23 shows a schematic view of the seventh preferred embodimentof the present invention at work.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, an organizer 20 embodied in thepresent invention is designed to arranged in an orderly way a series ofsockets 1 of a socket wrench. The organizer 20 comprises a base 21 and aplurality of retaining members 22. The retaining members 22 are formedof two sliding grooves 221 opposite to each other, a retaining portion222, and a specification mark 224. The retaining members 22 are mountedat intervals on the base 21 such that the two sliding grooves 221 arefitted with the two sliding projections 211 of the base 21. Theretaining portion 222 is provided with a locating ball 223. Theorganizer 20 of the present invention is characterized by the retainingportion 222 which is so constructed to retain the working end 3 of oneof the sockets 1. In another words, the retaining portion 222 is sizedand shaped in conformity with the specification of the working end 3 ofa given socket 1, as denoted by the specification mark 224. For example,the sockets 1 are provided at a coupling end 2 with a tetragonal slot,and at a working end 3 with a hexagonal slot. The tetragonal slots ofthe coupling ends 2 of all sockets 1 are identical in specification andare used to couple with the head 33 of a socket wrench 32, asillustrated in FIG. 11. The working end 3 of all sockets 1 is providedwith a hexagonal slot engageable with the bolt or nut of a specific sizeand shape. In another words, the hexagonal slots of the working ends 3of all sockets 1 are different in specification from one another. As aresult, all sockets 1 must be arranged in a predetermined order on thebase 21 of the organizer 20 in view of the fact that the retainingportion 222 of a given retaining member 22 fits with the working end 3of a specific socket.

[0034] In light of the retaining members 22 being removably mounted onthe base 21 of the organizer 20, the serial arrangement of the sockets 1can be changed as desired.

[0035] As illustrated in FIG. 11, all sockets 1 can be removed from theorganizer 20 by a socket wrench 32 in such a manner that the head 33 ofthe socket wrench 32 is securely retained in the tetragonal slot 2 ofthe sockets 1, regardless of the fact that the working ends 3 of thesockets 1 are different in specification.

[0036] The retaining portion 222 of the retaining members 22 is of ahexagonal construction, as shown in FIGS. 9, 10, and 11. However, theretaining portion may be of a circular construction, as shown in FIG. 12in which each retaining member 23 is formed of a circular retainingportion 231, a locating ball 232, and a specification mark 233. Thecircular retaining portion 231 of a given retaining member 23 has adiameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the hexagonal workingslot 3 of a specific socket 1, as illustrated in FIG. 13.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the retaining member 25 of theorganizer of the present invention are of an inverted U-shapedconstruction and are formed of a head portion 251 and two shoulders 252.The head portion 251 is elastic in nature and is used to retain theworking end 3 of the sockets 1. One of the two shoulders 252 is markedwith a specification which is corresponding to that of the working end 3of a specific socket 1. The elastic head portion 251 is removablyinserted into the hexagonal slot of the working end 3 of the specificsocket 1, as illustrated in FIG. 15.

[0038] As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, a plurality of retaining members 27are arranged at intervals on a base 26 which is a plank. The retainingmembers 27 are of a circular construction and are corresponding indiameter to the hexagonal slots of the working ends 3 of the sockets 1.The retaining members 27 are provided with a locating ball 272. Thespecification marks 273 are printed on the base 26 such that they arecorresponding in location to the retaining members 27.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, a tool organizer of the presentinvention is designed to arrange in an orderly way a plurality ofdouble-ended wrenches 40, each having at one end a hexagonal workingslot 41 of a specification. The tool organizer comprises a base 28 and aplurality of retaining members 29. The base 28 is a board, which can befastened onto a wall. The retaining members 29 are fastened onto thebase 28 at intervals and are provided with a retaining portion 291, alocating ball 292, and a specification mark 293 which is printed on thebase 28. In light of the hexagonal working slots 41 of a series of thedouble-ended wrenches 40 being various in specification, the retainingportions 291 of the retaining members 29 are different in specificationfrom one another. A given retaining portion 291 is corresponding inspecification to only one of the double-ended wrenches 40. As a result,the wrenches 40 are always arranged in a predetermined order on the base28 such that the working slot 41 of a specific wrench 40 is retained bya specific retaining portion 291 which is corresponding in specificationto the working slot 41 of that specific wrench 40.

[0040] As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the base 30 and the retainingmembers 31 of the organizer of the present invention are accommodated ina tool box 50 along with a series of sockets 1 and a socket wrench. Theretaining members 31 are provided with a retaining portion 311 and aspecification mark 312. The sockets 1 are orderly arranged in the toolbox 50, with the working end 3 of a given socket 1 being removablyretained by a retaining portion 311 corresponding in specification tothe working end 3 of that given socket 1.

[0041] As shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, a screwdriver organizer of thepresent invention comprises a base 60 and a plurality of retainingmembers 61 mounted on the base 60 at intervals. The base 60 and theretaining members 61 are disposed in a tool box. The retaining members61 are formed of a retaining portion 611 and a specification mark 612denoting the specification of the retaining portion 611, with thespecification of the retaining portion 611 being corresponding to thespecification of one of a series of screwdrivers 70. The screwdrivers 70have a working end 71 which is used to turn a screw of a specification.The screwdrivers 70 are orderly arranged in the tool box such that theworking end 71 of a given screwdriver 70 is removably retained by aretaining portion 611 which is corresponding in specification to theworking end 71 of the given screwdriver 70.

[0042] The embodiments of the present invention described above are tobe regarded in all respects as being illustrative and nonrestrictive.Accordingly, the present invention may be embodied in other specificforms without deviating from the spirit thereof. The present inventionis therefore to be limited only by the scopes of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tool organizer used to arrange orderly a seriesof tools, each having a working end of a specification, said toolorganizer comprising a base and a plurality of retaining members mountedat intervals on said base for retaining removably the tools; whereinsaid retaining members are formed of a retaining portion and aspecification mark located along with said retaining portion to denotethe specification of the working end of the tool whereby said retainingportion is used to retain removably the working end of each tool.
 2. Anorganizer used to arrange orderly a series of sockets of a socketwrench, said organizer comprising a base and a plurality of retainingmembers mounted at intervals on said base for retaining removably thesockets, each having a working end with a hexagonal slot of aspecification; wherein said retaining members are formed of a retainingportion and a specification mark located along with said retainingportion to denote the specification of the hexagonal slot of the workingend of the socket whereby said retaining portion is of a hexagonalconstruction and is corresponding in specification to the hexagonal slotof the working end of the socket, with said retaining portion beingremovable fitted into said hexagonal slot of the working end of thesocket.
 3. The organizer as defined in claim 2, wherein said retainingportion is of a circular construction and has a diameter correspondingto an inner diameter of the hexagonal slot of the working end of thesocket.
 4. The organizer as defined in claim 2, wherein said retainingportion is an elastic piece dimensioned to fit removably into thehexagonal slot of the working end of the socket.
 5. A screwdriverorganizer used to arranged orderly a series of screwdrivers, each havinga working end of a specification, said organizer comprising a base and aplurality of retaining members mounted at intervals on said base forretaining removably the screwdrivers; wherein said retaining members areformed of a retaining portion and a specification mark located alongwith said retaining portion to denote the specification of the workingend of the screwdriver whereby said retaining portion is used to retainremovably the working end of the screwdriver.